Belt tracking assembly and methods for the same

Abstract

A pulley assembly for an automative machine and methods for the same are disclosed. The pulley assembly may include a monolithic body, an actuation assembly, and a pulley. The body may define a recess extending from a first end surface toward a second end surface thereof. The recess may separate an upper portion from a lower portion of the body. The body may define a bore extending through the upper and lower portions of the body. The bore may be threaded along a length thereof. The actuation assembly may include a mechanical biasing element having a threaded portion. The mechanical biasing element may be disposed in the bore such that the threaded portion thereof is threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the bore. The pulley may be rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the body such that the pully moves when the upper portion is actuated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pulley assembly for positioning a belt of a machine, the pulley assembly comprising:
 a monolithic body comprising a first end surface and a second end surface, the monolithic body defining a recess extending from the first end surface toward the second end surface, the recess at least partially separating an upper portion of the monolithic body from a lower portion of the monolithic body, the monolithic body further defining a bore extending through the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body, a portion of the bore being threaded along a length thereof; 
 an actuation assembly operably coupled with the monolithic body, the actuation assembly comprising a mechanical biasing element comprising a threaded portion, the mechanical biasing element being disposed in the bore such that the threaded portion of the mechanical biasing element is threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the bore; and 
 a pulley rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body such that the pulley moves when the upper portion of the monolithic body is actuated. 
 
     
     
       2. The pulley assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly is disposed proximal to the first end surface of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       3. The pulley assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical biasing element is configured to apply a biasing force to the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body to actuate the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body toward or away from one another. 
     
     
       4. The pulley assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic body defines a counterbore coaxial with the bore and extending through the lower portion of the monolithic body from a lower surface of the monolithic body to a shoulder in the lower portion of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       5. The pulley assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical biasing element further comprises a head, and wherein the mechanical biasing element is disposed in the bore and the counterbore such that the threaded portion thereof is threadably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body and the head is disposed in the counterbore. 
     
     
       6. The pulley assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the head of the mechanical biasing element is disposed directly adjacent to the shoulder in the lower portion of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       7. The pulley assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises one or more washers interposed between the head of the mechanical biasing element and the shoulder defined in the lower portion of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       8. The pulley assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more washers comprise a spherical washer set. 
     
     
       9. The pully assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic body defines a counterbore coaxial with the bore, the counterbore extending through the upper portion of the monolithic body from an upper surface thereof to a shoulder in the upper portion of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       10. The pully assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the mechanical biasing element further comprises a head, and wherein the mechanical biasing element is disposed in the bore and the counterbore such that the threaded portion is threadably coupled with the lower portion of the monolithic body and the head is disposed in the counterbore. 
     
     
       11. The pully assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the head of the mechanical biasing element is disposed directly adjacent to the shoulder in the upper portion of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       12. The pully assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises one or more washers interposed between the head of the mechanical biasing element and the shoulder defined in the upper portion of the monolithic body. 
     
     
       13. The pulley assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic body is directly coupled with a deck of the machine. 
     
     
       14. The pulley assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer interposed between the monolithic body and a deck of the machine, the spacer configured to position the monolithic body a specific distance from the deck, wherein the spacer defines a hole extending at least partially therethrough, wherein the pulley assembly further comprises a pin extending from a lower surface of the monolithic body, and wherein the pin is disposed in the hole of the spacer. 
     
     
       15. A pulley assembly for a machine comprising a deck, the pulley assembly comprising:
 a monolithic body coupled with the deck and including a first end surface and a second end surface, the monolithic body defining a recess extending from the first end surface toward the second end surface, the recess at least partially separating an upper portion of the monolithic body from a lower portion of the monolithic body, the monolithic body further defining a bore extending through the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body, a portion of the bore being threaded along a length thereof; 
 a mounting stud extending from and coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body; 
 a pulley rotatably coupled with the mounting stud; and 
 an actuation assembly operably coupled with the monolithic body, the actuation assembly comprising a mechanical biasing element comprising a threaded portion and a head, the mechanical biasing element being disposed in the bore such that the threaded portion is threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the bore and the head is disposed adjacent a shoulder defined in the upper or lower portions of the monolithic body. 
 
     
     
       16. The pully assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the mechanical biasing element is configured to apply a biasing force to the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body to actuate the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body toward or away from one another to thereby increase or decrease an angle of the pulley relative to the deck, respectively. 
     
     
       17. The pulley assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the shoulder is defined in the lower portion of the monolithic body, 
 the monolithic body further defines a counterbore coaxial with the bore and extending from a lower surface of the monolithic body to the shoulder in the lower portion of the monolithic body, and 
 the mechanical fastener is disposed in the bore and the counterbore such that the threaded portion thereof is threadably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body and the head is disposed in the counterbore. 
 
     
     
       18. A method for adjusting a pulley assembly of a machine that includes a conveyor belt, the pulley assembly comprising:
 a monolithic body comprising a first end surface and a second end surface, the monolithic body defining a recess extending from the first end surface toward the second end surface, the recess at least partially separating an upper portion of the monolithic body from a lower portion of the monolithic body, the monolithic body further defining a bore extending through the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body, a portion of the bore being threaded along a length thereof; 
 an actuation assembly operably coupled with the monolithic body, the actuation assembly comprising a mechanical biasing element comprising a threaded portion, the mechanical biasing element being disposed in the bore such that the threaded portion of the mechanical biasing element is threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the bore; and 
 a pulley rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body such that the pulley moves when the upper portion of the monolithic body is actuated; 
 
       the method comprising:
 rotating the mechanical biasing element of the actuation assembly to apply a biasing force to the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body, wherein the biasing force moves the upper and lower portions of the monolithic body toward or away from one another to thereby increase or decrease an angle of the pulley relative to the machine; and 
 ceasing the rotating when the pulley reaches a desired angle relative to the machine. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mechanical biasing element is a mechanical fastener that extends at least partially through the upper portion and the lower portion of the monolithic body, and wherein rotating the mechanical biasing element comprises rotating the mechanical fastener such that the threads apply the biasing force. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the portion of the bore extending through the upper portion is threaded, 
 the monolithic body further defines a counterbore coaxial with the bore and extending from a lower surface of the monolithic body to a shoulder in the lower portion of the monolithic body, and 
 the mechanical fastener is disposed in the bore and the counterbore such that the threaded portion thereof is threadably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body and the head is disposed in the counterbore.